John N. Ethier

PAXTON — John “Jack” N. Ethier, 59, of Monticello Drive, died unexpectedly from heart complications at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. He was born in Worcester, son of Paul E. and Margaret M. (Johnson) Ethier, and lived 20 years in Spencer, and many in Worcester before moving to Paxton in 2000.

Jack was a 1970 graduate of David Prouty High School in Spencer, where he was an outstanding athlete in tennis, baseball and basketball. He graduated from Worcester State College in 1974, where he played tennis and was captain of the tennis team in his senior year. In 1991, he was inducted into Worcester State College’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a buyer at Metso Automation in Worcester, formerly Jamesbury Corporation, for 38 years.

He was a member of St. Columba Church in Paxton. He loved spending time with family and friends, vacationing in Maine and Cape Cod, and watching all New England sports teams. Jack was a devoted and loving husband, father, brother and grandfather.

He leaves his wife of 36 years, Joanne (Chaisson) Ethier; three sons, Dr. Matthew D. Ethier, his wife Lauren and their son, Samuel of East Providence, R.I., Daniel J. Ethier and his wife Erin of Guilford, Conn., and Michael T. Ethier of Worcester; two brothers, Michael F. Ethier and his wife Mary of Grafton, and Timothy C. Ethier and his wife Suzanne of Holden; a sister, Patricia Marois and her husband James of Worcester; many nephews and nieces. A brother, Paul Joseph Ethier, died in 1972.

A Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, in St. John’s Church, 40 Temple St., Worcester, with burial in Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Avenue (Rte. 56), Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Church, Food for the Poor Center, 44 Temple St., Worcester, MA 01604; or St. Peter’s Food Bank, c/o St. Peter’s Church, 929 Main St., Worcester, MA 01610. Miles Funeral Home, Holden, is directing arrangements. (milesfuneralhome.com)